She's a charming and persuasive person, and she needs to show right away that she will be accessible. She does that, and everything else will fall into line.

I know there are academics who are upset that UC picked a former Arizona governor and Homeland Security secretary who's never had any experience managing a university. But let's get real - the public and the media don't pay much attention to college professors. It's protesting students who make news.

From what I've been able to put together, Napolitano was Gov. Jerry Brown's choice. He's made no secret that he wants to change the university's culture, so he went well outside the ivory tower to find someone to run it.

And although Napolitano hasn't headed up a university before, she has run a federal department and a state government. Those are pretty complicated jobs, too.

Plus, they show she's got the sales skills - yes, we politicians have them - to attract resources and money that UC might not get otherwise.

The Florida stand-your-ground law may be the worst law in the country, but that's Florida for you.

There wasn't anything unusually racial about the Trayvon Martin killing. In Florida, if you're black, you're in trouble no matter what.

As for building a federal civil rights case against George Zimmerman, that's going to be tough because he's got no history of racial hatred. And without a case, the air is going to go out of the story.

The one issue that may remain, however, is gun control. This would never have happened if Zimmerman had been armed with nothing but a stick.

After years of watching from across the bay, I finally got a real close look at the face of Oakland politics the other night.

It was like taking a trip in a time machine.

The event was a fundraiser for Rep. Barbara Lee, D-Oakland. I was asked to come over and introduce her onstage.

One cat came up to me at the event and said he first met me at a demonstration at Sather Gate back in 1968.

The thing is, he and his compadres are still there.

Still, it was a fun night. The congresswoman was resplendent. And she's just been selected as the congressional delegate to the United Nations.

And I know she's looking to sitting next to Cuba.

Movie time: "20 Feet From Stardom." From the Crystals' Darlene Love to the Rolling Stones with Cissy Houston, this is a wonderful and entertaining look at the backup singers who added so much to the recordings we all enjoy.

It's a true story, with real people and told with honesty. And like a good hit record, it's not overly long.

"Fruitvale Station." Michael B. Jordan should get an Academy Award nomination for his portrayal of Oscar Grant. We all know the story, so I won't go into it here. But the movie is about as honest as it gets.